by Joanna Blake
"Okay."
All the air left his lungs in a big whoosh. She'd actually said yes. That meant he would have access to her whenever he wanted it.
And he was going to want it a lot.
"You weren't sneaking off then?"
"No Nick, I wasn't. I promise."
He grinned at her goofily. Then he kissed her. She kissed him back sweetly. He started to pull her against his body, just to show her what she was doing to him already.
He was hard as a rock again.
"Nick- we have to go!"
He lifted his head again, cursing.
"Bloody hell, it's my tour! We leave when I say so!"
She rolled her eyes at him.
"It doesn't quite work that way, Nick."
"Fine! But I expect you in my bed as soon as we arrive in Paris."
She blushed and looked away before nodding.
"Alright."
He growled and scooped her up, making her squeal.
"You're going to drive me insane woman you know that?"
"Because I keep agreeing with whatever you say?"
He let her slide down his body.
"No, not that. That's whats keeping me from losing my mind entirely. Don't stop doing that."
"Okay."
"Good. Well, hurry up woman we have to catch the train."
"Train?"
"Yes, love. I promised you no flying, didn't I? We'll take the train to France and then drive everywhere else."
She was staring at him, her little mouth opened in surprise.
"Oh and love? The tour bus has a nice big bed in the back."
She blinked at him and he grinned. He knew she’d be too shy to make use of the bed. He grinned to himself. That’s why he’d asked specifically for two buses.
He stormed to the door, eager to be on their way. Outside in the hallway was a fresh stack of newspapers. On the front cover was a photo of Nick carrying Sabrina into the hotel the night before. The caption read 'Sleeping Beauty.' In the picture Nick has his finger on his lips hushing them, and the paparazzi around him are laughing.
He glanced back to make sure she wasn't looking and scooped up the papers, tossing them into a waste bin on his way back to his room.
He was whistling the whole way.
Chapter 42
Sabrina
Sabrina held Nick's hand as they sped through the tunnel underneath the English Channel, also known as the Chunnel. The train felt like it was going nearly as fast as his jet but she felt totally safe. She told herself it had to do with being on the ground, instead of miles in the air.
But she knew it was more than that. It was Nick.
He was making her feel safe and secure. And adored. She knew this was probably part of his repertoire. Sweeping the flavor of the month off of their feet and then losing interest.
It didn't feel like that though.
It felt real.
That was part of his undeniable appeal. Even if he didn’t mean it for forever, he meant it right now. It was beyond seductive.
She couldn't help but be afraid though. Afraid of the day when he would stop smiling. Stop treating her this way. When he'd grow distant and disappear. If she could have a few more weeks of this though, it would be worth the heartbreak that was coming.
That, at least, she knew was inevitable.
When the train pulled into Paris, two enormous buses were waiting. One for Nick and her, and another for the band and Marley. She stared around the bus in wonder. There was a dining area, two huge sofas. A full sized bathroom including a porcelain tub, and in the back, an enormous bed.
"How did you arrange all this?"
"Can't take all the credit. Marley managed most of it."
She shook her head and sat down at the table to check her email. On the ride to their hotel, Nick sprawled out on the couch while she made calls, confirming all his interviews and any press that would be attending the shows. She also confirmed the rehearsal time for later that day.
Every time she looked up from her laptop he was watching her.
They were there in twenty minutes. He smiled at her when she finally shut her laptop and looked out the window. They were just pulling up to the hotel.
"How much time do we have?"
She glanced at her phone.
"About six hours before you need to leave for the amphitheater."
He grinned at her.
"That's plenty of time."
"What exactly did you have in mind?"
"Let me show you Paris. My Paris."
"No hats this time?"
"No disguises. That's part of the fun love. Or don't you want to be seen with me?"
She took a quick breath and held it.
"Alright. Let's go."
He took her hand and pulled her out of the bus.
"We will. After."
Sabrina felt her body respond instantly to his words and the heated look in his eyes.
She didn't have to ask him what he meant by that.
Chapter 43
Nick
Nick dragged Sabrina through the lobby of the Ritz Paris.
He was acting like a bloody schoolboy but he didn't care. She was his now. She'd agreed to do as he said. He was going to put that to the test, as soon as he got into his suite.
A photographer was in the lobby and snapped a picture of them before security ushered him out. Nick ignored him. He didn't care about anything except getting his woman into his bed.
Thank God for Marley. He already had the key card and was waiting for him by the elevator.
"Top floor."
"Marley, you are a lifesaver."
He yanked Sabrina into the elevator and had his hands all over her the second the doors closed.
"Nick!"
"Hush, love. You promised to be agreeable."
"But you can't- not in an elevator!"
He laughed.
"Alright, we can wait until we're inside if you prefer that."
The doors opened directly to his suite and they practically tumbled out. She backed away from him, her high heeled boots clicking on the marble floor.
"Where are you going, love?"
She just stared at him wide-eyed as she continued to back up. Then her ankled bumped into a sofa and he pushed her gently backwards onto it. He climbed on top of her and started stripping her clothes off her body, nibbling at her ears and neck.
"Nick! What if someone comes in!"
"You picked the spot love. If you want the bed, you are going to have to wait until I'm finished with round one."
She laughed breathlessly. He was making her nervous he could tell. Good. He wanted her on edge. He was the one who was on the verge of losing his mind and doing something insane.
Like proposing marriage.
He wanted it. He wanted her more than anything. He’d even skip the prenup, which didn’t sound all that romantic, but when you were rich as Croesus, it was.
By God, it was.
There was only one thing stopping him.
He knew she'd run if he tried it.
She was more than aware of his track record. But those marriages had been shams. A procession of hot, placid girls who clung to him like glue. Not one of them had challenged him like she did. Not one had excited him this way either.
He was eagerly kissing her glorious tits when the knock came on the door.
"GO AWAY!"
He grinned down at her.
"See love? Problem solved."
She was so serious, staring up at him. He pressed tiny kisses all over every inch of her he could reach. She was sighing and squirming when he guided his cock to her pussy.
He eased inside her delicous tightness, staring deeply into her eyes. He thought he caught a shimmer of tears. He held perfectly still, trying to control himself in the face of the pleasure.
“You alright, love?”
She nodded but he could tell something was wrong.
He made a tiny circle with his hips.
“Do you want me to stop?”
“No, Nick. Please don’t stop…”
He brushed her hair back from her face, tucking a silky strand behind her perfect ear.
“What is it then?”
“Please… don’t hurt me. Just tell me when its over. I can’t…”
He stared down at her in shock.
“I’m not going to leave you. Don’t you know I’m in love with you?”
The tears did spill over then. He kissed them away. Every single one.
Then he began to move. Smooth, deep strokes that gave them both shivers of pleasure. She was gasping, so close to the edge from the start.
He was trying to show her, to tell her how he felt.
I love you.
He drove his cock deeper and harder.
I love you.
He felt her starting to peak and gave her everything he had.
I love you.
He exploded inside her, imagining the glorious day when she’d go off the pill. When she’d give him a child.
I love you.
He held her for hours after, aching and hard for her nearly the whole time. But he didn’t take her again.
Chapter 44
Sabrina
Sabrina stared out the window at the paparazzi who were huddled together outside Le Baron. Nick's rehearsal had just finished and they were eating the most sumptuous meal she'd ever had in her life.
To be honest, she felt a bit like royalty. It was Nick of course. He was rock royalty, and it seemed to be washing off on her.
Not that she really minded. She was going to enjoy this for as long as it lasted. She knew she’d need the memories of this whirlwind romance to keep her warm someday.
She was wearing the new Givenchy dress that Nick had insisted on buying her that afternoon. It was raw silk in a gold tone that set off her hair. The dress was deceptively simple, fitting every inch of her curves like a glove. They’d even tailored it for her on the spot! Then there were the Dior shoes. They were shimmering snakeskin pumps with an ornate floral design on the toe and heel.
Nick had told her not to look at the price tags. She could have whatever she wanted. He had one rule for the saleswomen, however. No black.
She'd tried to stop him from spending so much money on her but he'd been adamant. He kept reminding her of her promise to be agreeable. In the end, he'd simply worn her down. As a result, they'd bought bags of designer clothing and shoes.
Two Chanel handbags were back in the hotel room, in addition to the Dior clutch that sat on the table beside her.
A new Cartier watch was on her wrist.
She'd seen him eyeing some rings as well. She'd felt panicked already, just from the sheer volume of money he was spending. If he bought her a ring she would faint on the spot. He caught the look in her eyes and wisely moved down to the earrings.
Pave diamond earrings.
She fingered the matching pave pendant hanging against the bare skin of her chest. Nick was ordering something for them. Another bottle of champagne. He was in his element, knowing exactly what to get. Surprisingly, his French was impeccable.
Nick was full of surprises.
And maybe, just maybe, he meant to stick around for longer than just a fling. He kept saying he wanted this to be real. That he wanted her, warts and all.
But she was too afraid to accept it. He was going to have to prove it, and that would take time.
She closed her eyes and said a little prayer that things would stay just like this, if only for a little while longer.
She didn’t want the fairytale to end.
Chapter 45
Nick
Viva fucking Roma!
Nick stared out over the throngs of screaming Italian fans. They were some of his favorites. The Romans in particular were so passionate and sophisticated. He threw energy out at them, and they smashed it right back. Every bloody time.
But it wasn’t just the crowd. He was in his element, performing better than ever before. And it was all down to his sweet Sabrina.
The last few weeks had been bliss. He wasn't getting much sleep, but neither was she. He’d never had so much sex in his life.
They were insatiable for each other.
For the first time in years he wasn't drinking excessively. Decades really. Since he left home at seventeen to tour with his first band.
He was eating well too, and going for long walks with his lady on his arm.
All of this was adding up to him feeling better than he ever had before.
Because of her.
As much as he loved performing, he was eager to get offstage and finish what they'd started in the dressing room. He'd requested whipped cream from craft services. He'd been eating the foamy spray off her nipples when the call to start the show had come. He'd just licked a whole portion from between her thighs.
He was ready for a second helping. Sabrina had mentioned that she had a sweet tooth as well. She was inexperienced but he found it delightful. There was something so sweet and sexy about her innocence when it came to matters of the flesh.
Bloody hell. Her lips on his rod… That thought was making it hard. It was almost impossible to concentrate on the song.
The crowd didn't seem to notice. For once in his life, it felt like he could do no wrong.
He even thought he was bringing her around to the idea of being his wife. He made casual references to things they would do, far in the future. Christmas in the Alps. Spring in Japan to see the cherry blossoms. New Year’s Eve in Bora Bora.
That sort of thing.
Basically, he was planning about a dozen honeymoons. And where to raise their kids. Maybe even the English countryside. Or France. Or wherever she bloody well chose.
The first few times she had given him startled glances. But lately she was taking it in stride.
Progress.
Finally, the show was drawing to a close. He was off the stage like a rocket, even before the crowd had started screaming.
The moment he was offstage he could tell something was wrong. He looked for her familiar face. He looked for her smile.
Sabrina wasn't there, waiting in the wings for him like usual.
She wasn't in the dressing room.
He ran down the hallway just in time to see her walk out of the arena. She was far away but he could tell something was wrong. She was stiff. Upset.
Nick took off at a run.
Chapter 46
Sabrina
Sabrina refused to cry.
She'd known this was going to happen, hadn't she? Ever since the first tug of attraction, that very first day. She’d know this would end badly.
End with her looking like a fool.
It shouldn't have come as a surprise.
But it had. A terrible, gut-wrenching surprise. She was still reeling a half hour later, as she rode alone in a cab back to the hotel.
If only she hadn't heard them talking. She could have gone on pretending a little while longer. She should have walked away in an instant.
But it was no use. The spell was broken, their words echoing in her head. She stared out the window and relived the scene she'd walked in on backstage.
The road crew had been with Nick forever. He considered them all his mates, or part of his family. He knew them all by name. He even knew most of their mum’s names.
It was obvious he'd been talking to them a lot when she wasn't around. She'd come backstage just in time to overhear them talking. About her.
Her cheeks grew warm just thinking about it…
"Oh, come on. You know you wonder how she is in bed."
"Don't have to. Got the Nick Falcon rank right from the horse’s mouth."
"Shut up."
"Nope. He gave her a ten. Said she was the best lay he'd had in his life."
"The best? Out of how many?"
"Thousands, mate. He rated her that high."
"Hell, I'd give her an eight on those tits alone."
"Amen to that!"
They were talking about her. Dissecting her like she was a piece of meat.
Maybe she was. In the grand scheme of things. How important could she be?
They'd said he'd slept with thousands of women. Thousands.
She'd been with three. One boyfriend in college. A handful of dates that went nowhere. One that almost seemed like he had potential. And Nick.
Nick was apparently a robotic sex machine. He didn’t particularly care where he stuck it. She was high in his estimation for some bizarre reason, but she was still just another lay.
Sabrina felt ill at the thought. And then it hit her. He hadn't just rated her for their amusement. He'd lumped her in with the rest of them. That was just the way he saw things.
She wasn't special, or different.
In the end, she was just another groupie waiting by the side of the stage.
The dream was over.
Chapter 47
Nick
Nick was frantic on the ride back to the Villa Borghese. He stormed through the hotel lobby until he was in his room. What he saw there sent a shiver of ice down his spine.
Her luggage was out. The dresser drawers were open and empty. Her jacket and purse were waiting on a chair by the door.
This could not be happening. They were so happy. He wanted to marry her for God’s sake!
But it was there in black and white. There was no getting around what was happening. The awful, gut-wrenching truth.
Sabrina was leaving him.
"What are you doing?"
"What does it look like? I'm packing."
He grabbed her shoulders.
"Stop this. Tell me what's wrong."
